16-03-2021, 08:20 PM
Hi Charles P
A good article. Intro and photos of protected mechanism perhaps makes the lathe seem complicated. My lathe file finished by Indian peasants long ago , needed far far more than levelling to turn true! Much of the challenge and skill of lathe work is the attaining and preserving of concentricity, which could perhaps be more emphasised. I have always found the left and right tool nomenclature very confusing. In older books much of the emphasis on tool angle stems from treadle days when energy was precious. Many now use one or two tools for near everything.
Old lathes free of bespoke motors, nylon gears fancy drive belts etc can be kept going forever although precison work requires considerable skill.
A good article. Intro and photos of protected mechanism perhaps makes the lathe seem complicated. My lathe file finished by Indian peasants long ago , needed far far more than levelling to turn true! Much of the challenge and skill of lathe work is the attaining and preserving of concentricity, which could perhaps be more emphasised. I have always found the left and right tool nomenclature very confusing. In older books much of the emphasis on tool angle stems from treadle days when energy was precious. Many now use one or two tools for near everything.
Old lathes free of bespoke motors, nylon gears fancy drive belts etc can be kept going forever although precison work requires considerable skill.